mission to track down all the Grim Angels and get rid of them one by one. I think he might know something about what’s going on with our leader and maybe what he looks like.
The leader of the Anamotti is here in the bowling alley, right now?
I think so. At least, that’s what I’m hoping.
What does he look like? I ask, angling my head to the side as I focus on the pins at the end of the lane.
I’m not sure, he says. All I know is that his name is Alton .
Shaking my head, I stroll forward and swing my arm forward, stumbling at the last second. My aim starts to drift to the side towards the gutter, but Cameron quickly seizes control and jerks me back to the left, regaining my balance for me. My fingers leave the holes in the ball and seconds later it’s rolling straight towards the pins.
Strike. He laughs as all the pins topple over.
I roll my eyes as I turn around, ready to head back to the bench and sit down. Instead, I crash straight into a rock solid chest.
“Sorry,” I mutter, pushing back, but someone grabs ahold of my wrist and secures me in place. Their body heat floods me instead of their death. I slowly tip my chin up and meet the eyes of a tall stranger. Beautiful eyes that glisten like pieces of sea glass. His blonde hair runs to his shoulders, his features flawless like they were carved out of stone and his lips are as red as a rose… or blood. I’ve also seen him before, in the newspaper, and when I was at the campus today.Edmund Baker, town Mayor, and Mackenzie’s dad.
“Don’t worry, I’m a lot stronger than I look,” he says, his voice is melodious and welcoming.
“Yeah, I guess so…” I trail off, my lips refusing to move anymore. It feels like I should feel more fear, but all I feel is numb. Dead inside. Stunned.
Shit, Cameron whispers. I’m losing control of you…
What…? My thoughts get lost in the magnetism I feel pulling me towards the person before me.
The corners of his lips turn upward into a grin. “Are you okay?”
I nod, dazzled by his eyes, his lips, by everything. It’s like I’m drowning in him and suddenly the cold inside me doesn’t feel so cold anymore. It feels very inviting. In fact, I crave it; crave death. “I’m fine…”
Why the hell am I not more afraid? This man murdered his daughter.
Ember, don’t let him get control…
His smile darkens. “You look a little flushed.”
I feel flushed. “I’m okay. I promise.” My head does feel extremely foggy, though; like I’m standing near a lake and fog is circling me everywhere while I can barely think or see straight.
“I’m Alton,” he says and I know I’m in deep trouble, yet I can’t seem to react to it. “And you are?”
“Ember Rose Edwards,” I say dazedly, still gazing up at him. Alton. The mayor is Alton. The mayor is the leader of the Anamotti? Holy shit .
“That’s a beautiful name,” he tells me then lifts his hand to stroke my cheek. He sweeps his finger across my cheekbone once and then withdraws his hand back to his side. “Very poetic.” He assesses me for a moment more, and then starts to pull me with him as he heads over towards the counter. “Here; come with me.”
I follow him without even questioning him, not moving my own feet, yet I don’t think Cameron is the one controlling me anymore, either. It’s Alton, although I don’t understand how.
Alton leads me over to the concession area with his hand resting on the small of my back, effortlessly steering me through the crowd. I think he’s going to get in line, but instead he strolls up to the front, cutting in line exactly how Raven did with the shoes.
“Two waters, Adellia,” he says to the lady behind the counter who’s over-dressed in a sparkling, floor length skirt, a sheer top and hoop earrings with her hair done up in curls.
“Of course, Alton,” she says and then rushes off to the soda
The leader of the Anamotti is here in the bowling alley, right now?
I think so. At least, that’s what I’m hoping.
What does he look like? I ask, angling my head to the side as I focus on the pins at the end of the lane.
I’m not sure, he says. All I know is that his name is Alton .
Shaking my head, I stroll forward and swing my arm forward, stumbling at the last second. My aim starts to drift to the side towards the gutter, but Cameron quickly seizes control and jerks me back to the left, regaining my balance for me. My fingers leave the holes in the ball and seconds later it’s rolling straight towards the pins.
Strike. He laughs as all the pins topple over.
I roll my eyes as I turn around, ready to head back to the bench and sit down. Instead, I crash straight into a rock solid chest.
“Sorry,” I mutter, pushing back, but someone grabs ahold of my wrist and secures me in place. Their body heat floods me instead of their death. I slowly tip my chin up and meet the eyes of a tall stranger. Beautiful eyes that glisten like pieces of sea glass. His blonde hair runs to his shoulders, his features flawless like they were carved out of stone and his lips are as red as a rose… or blood. I’ve also seen him before, in the newspaper, and when I was at the campus today.Edmund Baker, town Mayor, and Mackenzie’s dad.
“Don’t worry, I’m a lot stronger than I look,” he says, his voice is melodious and welcoming.
“Yeah, I guess so…” I trail off, my lips refusing to move anymore. It feels like I should feel more fear, but all I feel is numb. Dead inside. Stunned.
Shit, Cameron whispers. I’m losing control of you…
What…? My thoughts get lost in the magnetism I feel pulling me towards the person before me.
The corners of his lips turn upward into a grin. “Are you okay?”
I nod, dazzled by his eyes, his lips, by everything. It’s like I’m drowning in him and suddenly the cold inside me doesn’t feel so cold anymore. It feels very inviting. In fact, I crave it; crave death. “I’m fine…”
Why the hell am I not more afraid? This man murdered his daughter.
Ember, don’t let him get control…
His smile darkens. “You look a little flushed.”
I feel flushed. “I’m okay. I promise.” My head does feel extremely foggy, though; like I’m standing near a lake and fog is circling me everywhere while I can barely think or see straight.
“I’m Alton,” he says and I know I’m in deep trouble, yet I can’t seem to react to it. “And you are?”
“Ember Rose Edwards,” I say dazedly, still gazing up at him. Alton. The mayor is Alton. The mayor is the leader of the Anamotti? Holy shit .
“That’s a beautiful name,” he tells me then lifts his hand to stroke my cheek. He sweeps his finger across my cheekbone once and then withdraws his hand back to his side. “Very poetic.” He assesses me for a moment more, and then starts to pull me with him as he heads over towards the counter. “Here; come with me.”
I follow him without even questioning him, not moving my own feet, yet I don’t think Cameron is the one controlling me anymore, either. It’s Alton, although I don’t understand how.
Alton leads me over to the concession area with his hand resting on the small of my back, effortlessly steering me through the crowd. I think he’s going to get in line, but instead he strolls up to the front, cutting in line exactly how Raven did with the shoes.
“Two waters, Adellia,” he says to the lady behind the counter who’s over-dressed in a sparkling, floor length skirt, a sheer top and hoop earrings with her hair done up in curls.
“Of course, Alton,” she says and then rushes off to the soda
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